Process of lining catalyst chambers



March 1l, 1947. c. E. CARTER PROCESS OFLINNG CATALYST'CHAMBER Filed arch 29. 1943 INVENTOR CHARLES E. CARTER QM; f7. ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1l, 1947 PROCESS OF LINING CATAL-YST CHADIBERS Charles E. Carter, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application March 29, 1943, Serial No. 481,031

1 Claim. v ll This invention relates to improvements in the construction of catalyst chambersl of the class employed in carrying out ln'drocarbon conversions in the presence of solid catalyst material,

the carbonaceous deposits. As a result of the exoy thermic heat of combustion developed in the course of catalyst reactivation, the catalyst mass and the chamber may be raised to temperatures within the range of about 1000o to 1500 F. These elevated temperatures are attained in the presence of free oxygen-containing fluids, such as air; and by virtue thereof, ordinary metals, when directly subjected to such temperatures, deteriorate rather quickly. Moreover, high temperatures are required during the conversion period, and since the conversion is often endothermic, it is desirable to minimize heat losses in order to maintain an ecient rate of conversion. For these reasons it has become desirable and con.- venient to insulate the interior of the usual metal catalyst chamber with a liner of insulating material that is preferably of the refractory type. Such a liner protects the metal chamber from, the detrimental effects of high temperatures, and in some cases enables the use of carbon steel instead of more expensive special alloy metals.

Furthermore, the use of such a liner greatly reduces heat losses that would otherwise occur in the conversion process. Suitable heat resistant materials are preferably applied to the interior Walls of the chamber by casting the same therein.

In the casting of liners of the character indicated, care must be taken to make the same substantially vapor-tight in order that the hot gases and/or vapors within the chamber may not pass through cracks and other continuous passages through the liner and reach the metal shell. When this occurs liners may be detached from the shell and the hot fluids may channel between the detached liner and the inner surface of the shell, thereby 'oy-passing the catalyst bed. Such an eventuality results in unsatisfactory operation,

heat losses through the chamber, and incomplete 'ucts are discharged from the chamber.

conversion of the process material. Vapor-tight liners are extremely dliiicult to form because of the tendency of the insulating materials, such as refractory cements, to shrink on setting after being cast in the form of a plastic mass. This is especially true vin the case of relatively large chambers, and particularly those of extended length. Experience has proven that when present day methodsy of insulating the interior of such liners are employed, the liners tend to crack, due to shrinkage on becoming set. I have discovered that improved liners may be fabricated when they are cast in a plurality of sections on the inner surface of a side Wall of a catalyst chamber to form a laminated type structure. For one thing, v the stresses set up in individual sections are isolated and do not4 alect any adjoining' sections. As

will be readily apparent to those skilled in the,

art upona complete vexamination of this invention as disclosed herein, the practice thereof affords a number of desirable advantages over the Well-known catalyst chambers. The liners of my invention eliminate the'possibility of objectionable cracks extending therethrough along the entire length of the chamber shell. Additionally,

there is less likelihood of any Acracks being formed Whenthe insulating material sets and solidies.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a catalyst chamber ,having an inner liner of insulating material -of improved construction and adapted to perform its intended functions in a wholly satisfactory manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sectional inner liner of cast heat-insulating material on the inner surface of the tubular wall of a catalyst chamber, which liner does not tend to become checked or cracked upon setting and in the course of normal use. l

These, as well as other objects yand advantages,

will be readily apparent from an examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, wherein Athere isillustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention in elevation and partly in cross section particularly showing a preferred V-shaped groove and abutting tongue of insulating material.

Referring to the drawing, I have generally denoted a catalyst chamber by 'reference numeral I 0, which chamber includes a substantially vertical' side wall Il, a topwa1l`l2 having an inlet I3 that communiel tes'with the interior of the chamber, and a bo tom wall I4 having an outlet I5 through wlfich the conversion prod- The chamber is preferably of a conventional type having a removal top mits ready access to the interior for purposes of repair and removal vor insertion of linervor` operation; an external sheath of insulating mabetween the abutting surfacesV of the wall or cover which percatalytic materials. Side `wall .II- consists of a I substantially cylindrical 'and vertical tubular. wall it, that is fabricated from sheet or plate lmetal of requisite thickness and composition to withstand the temperature and pressure condltions to which it is subjected during normal terial` il preferably of the asbestos type; and an inner liner I8 of cast insulating material, preferably of the refractory type. inner `liner I8 consists of a plurality of annular sections i9, 20, 2i. and' 22 that are disposed one above the other in an abutting relation, as illustrated. The upper end surface of. sectional liners I9, 20, and 2i-is each provi ed withat least one annular groove 23, prefera ly V-shaped, which is adapted to receive an annular tongue or projection 24 in the lower end surface of the adjacent and abutting sectional liner immediately thereabove. A coating of sealing material, such as a suitable grease, is interposed sectional liners during fabrication.

In the course of the manufacture of the catalyst chamber, lower sectional liner i9 is first cast in the lower portion of metal shell I6 and is allowed to set or substantially solidify. Corresponding groove 23 is then formed in the upper surface of lower section [9,01* if desired, said groove may be 'formed while the material of the liner is still in a plastic state. As soon as sectional liner I9 becomes substantially set. the4 upper end surface thereof, including corresponding groove 23, is coated with a sealing material of the character indicated above. Sectional liner 20 is then cast directly upon sectional liner i9, annular projection 24 extending into groove 23 in sectional liner I9. The procedure. outlined herein is then repeated with respect yto the remaining sectional liners. It will be noted that by virtue` of the ring and groove arrangement at the juncture of the sectional liners an effective seal is obtained. Furthermore, should the iiuid material admitted into the chamber tend to pass through this joint, it would be hindered by virtue of the extended path it would have to follow, as compared to the thickness of the liner. If desired, more than one groove and annular projection arrangement may be provided to thereby further increase said path. While I y claim.

have disclosed the use of a suitable grease as the coating material between the sectional liners,

Acomprehended by persons skilled in the art. It

is to be clearly understood,'however, thatvarious changes in the method herein set forth, may

be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as .dened by the4 appended r claim: l e In the insulation of a chamberfor the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons, the process of installing refractory material for the protection of the walls of said chamber, which comprises y casting a rst section of hard-setting, heat-insulating, plastic material in the inner surface of the lower portion of said chamber wall, forming at least one annular Vshaped groove substantially concentric with said chamber wall in the upper edge of said cast section, allowing said rst section to set and assume substantially its maximum contraction, casting a relatively narrow section of said insulating material above said first section with a tongue tting into said groove to form a vapor-tight unannexed joint between said sections and allowing a similar pe` riod for setting and contraction, and successively repeating the operation of casting relatively' narrow sections of insulation with similar setting and contracting 'periods of time between each successive layer to completely line the inner surface of said chamber with vapor-tight sections of insulation.

CHARLES E.. CARTER.

REFERENCES cl'rEn The following references are o f record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PaTEN'rs 

